Yesterday I visited with Jonathan Peerboom – Program and Development Director of Next Step of West Michigan (Next Step) – a faith-based nonprofit employing people coming out of prison or rehab and providing them with a community of support that will help them integrate into the workforce, regain hope and empower themselves to create aContinue reading “Community Spotlight: Next Step of West Michigan – walking alongside the most vulnerable”
Tag Archives: social impact
Grand Rapids Social Enterprise, L3Cs and a Call to Community Partnership.
Yesterday I visited with Dr. Justin Beene – Founder of Grand Rapids Center for Community Transformation (GRCCT) – a collective of non-profit/for-profits working to see flourishing in Grand Rapids for all. GCCT is essentially a hub for social enterprise, for the common good of the Greater Grand Rapids Area. GRCCT states on its website thatContinue reading “Grand Rapids Social Enterprise, L3Cs and a Call to Community Partnership.”
Michigan Behind the Ball with Benefit Corporation Laws.
Good afternoon, all. It has been a while since my last post – I hope you all have been enjoying the summer. I usually include in these posts a recent photo of downtown Grand Rapids where my office overlooks Rosa Parks Circle. On one of my walks downtown last week I decided to take aContinue reading “Michigan Behind the Ball with Benefit Corporation Laws.”
Detroit Startup Week Kicks Off – Schedule Now Available, Includes Legal Workshops
Today starts art festival in Grand Rapids – I took this photo just minutes ago. Summer is coming fast and so is Detroit Startup Week. Scheduled from June 18-22. According to its website, Startup week is: “A week long celebration of Detroit’s entrepreneurs. Volunteer-led and completely free for attendees, we are aiming to create a communityContinue reading “Detroit Startup Week Kicks Off – Schedule Now Available, Includes Legal Workshops”
My Thoughts on Social Enterprise: Am I Living Each Day with Conviction and Purpose?
Last week I mowed the lawn for the first time this year. I didn’t have any gas to fill up the mower, so I just relied on the unknown amount of gas that had been in the mower over the winter. As I was mowing the back yard, the largest portion of my lawn, IContinue reading “My Thoughts on Social Enterprise: Am I Living Each Day with Conviction and Purpose?”
Michigan is Back Trending Towards Social Entrepreneurship: April 24, 2018 Benefit Corporation Legislation Proposed.
Good morning! Downtown Grand Rapids is starting to look and feel like spring. The trees are just starting to get their leaves – I can’t wait for West Michigan to become green once again. Speaking of new life – the legislature has breathed new life in the possibility of benefit corporations (“Bcorps”) becoming a viableContinue reading “Michigan is Back Trending Towards Social Entrepreneurship: April 24, 2018 Benefit Corporation Legislation Proposed.”
Fintech Startup “Lemonade” Latest $120 Million Round of Funding – Following Through on Its Purpose Driven Mission.
“The key to disrupting a billion-dollar industry is ‘ignorance” check out this recent article on “Lemonade” via BusinessInsider In the past I have posted on Fintech Companies – and highlighted a few. One of those in particular is “Lemonade” a disrupter in the urban rental and home insurance industry. Check out an update onContinue reading “Fintech Startup “Lemonade” Latest $120 Million Round of Funding – Following Through on Its Purpose Driven Mission.”
Today I was confronted with the Need For Affordable Housing in Grand Rapids.
Today I did what I routinely do on Thursdays around noon time – I visited the school where I mentor a student. I walked to the classroom and talked with his teacher who told me that this student was no longer enrolled in the school. Just like that, a relationship that I had developed overContinue reading “Today I was confronted with the Need For Affordable Housing in Grand Rapids.”
Community Revitalization To Include Downtown Grocery Stores: Update on The Urban Food Initiative.
Yesterday I read a story about a Detroiter, Raphael Wright who plans on opening a “mission-driven supermarket” in downtown Detroit. Check out the article on NextCity. Raphael’s idea is sparked by a much needed grocery option in Detroit- particularly for low-income residents. I love this idea. A few years back I took my family toContinue reading “Community Revitalization To Include Downtown Grocery Stores: Update on The Urban Food Initiative.”
OCC’s Remarks on Fintech Charter and a “Conversation about Financial Innovation and Fintech”
Today, Keith A. Noreika, Acting Comptroller of the Currency gave remarks encompassing the topic of Responsible Financial Innovation and Fintech Companies. You can read Mr. Noreika’s remarks here. All the excitement surrounding fintech companies reminds me of something that gets me excited – college football, particularly Michigan State Spartan Football (thus, a photo from oneContinue reading “OCC’s Remarks on Fintech Charter and a “Conversation about Financial Innovation and Fintech””
Purpose Driven General Counsel 